John Myers
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Chili not only gives food a special spiciness, but the pods are also very healthy. Find out what you need to know about the food in this nutrition tip.
Chili – healthy food thanks to numerous vitamins
Chili is not only a stimulant but also provides a lot of vitamins and minerals.
- 100 grams of chili contain 180mg of vitamin C. That is almost double the recommended daily amount.
- Beta-carotene is a precursor of vitamin A and is therefore also called provitamin A.
- In 100 grams of chili, there is only 0.5mg of provitamin A. However, the recommended daily requirement is only 2 to 5mg.
- Chili contains some minerals and trace elements such as calcium and magnesium as well as iron and zinc.
- With 290 mg per 100 grams of chili, the pods are above all a good source of potassium.
The thing with the capsaicin
A special ingredient is responsible for the spiciness of chili: Capsaicin. Depending on the type of chili, the pods contain different amounts of capsaicin. Chili hotness is measured in Scoville.
- Capsaicin is good for your health in many ways. The ingredient has an effect on your blood lipids. It can lower the less-healthy LDL cholesterol.
- In addition, capsaicin protects the blood vessels from deposits. Thus, chili can possibly prevent cardiovascular diseases.
- Although capsaicin is a stimulant, it is also used to treat stomach ulcers. The ingredient contains active ingredients that protect the mucous membrane and also have an anti-inflammatory effect.
- Since capsaicin stimulates blood circulation and metabolism, the active ingredient is also often used in heat patches. These are designed to relieve joint or back pain.
- Chili can also make you happy – but only if it really burns your mouth. Then the body releases happy hormones, the so-called endorphins, as a counter-reaction.
- By the way: If you accidentally seasoned your food with chili too much, toast with mascarpone is the best way to prevent burning.
